‘He is a martyr’: Gazan woman mourns husband killed in Iranian missile strike on Israel: Video
In the aftermath of Iran's ballistic missile attack on Israel on October 1, a Gazan woman, Maha Al-Asali, has expressed her grief over the death of her husband, Sameh Al-Asali, the only reported casualty from the strike in the West Bank.
The attack, which saw nearly 200 missiles launched towards Israel, has been claimed as retaliation by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) for the death of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in July.
Maha Al-Asali, speaking from the Jabalia camp in Gaza, recounted how she learned of her husband's death. “My brother’s wife told me I will tell you something bad, but you have to be strong. So, I knew that he died. Praise be to God [anyway], he is a martyr,” she told AFP.
Having not seen her husband for over a year, Maha expressed her sorrow, saying, "I hadn't seen him for a year and a month. If only I could see him for a moment. May God have mercy on his soul."
A neighbour also shared the community’s reaction to Sameh Al-Asali's death. "Yesterday after nine o'clock in the evening, we received the news of his martyrdom. It was shocking and sad for everyone."
According to the Israeli military, most of the missiles launched by Iran were intercepted, though some did strike central and southern Israel.
The IRGC said the attack was a response to what it described as a "violation of Iran's sovereignty" and the death of Haniyeh in Tehran. Iranian officials blamed Israel for the explosion that killed Haniyeh, although Israel did not claim responsibility.
A senior Iranian official revealed to Reuters that the missile strikes were personally ordered by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
